Survivor List(last names beginning with "V")

Thousands of circus fans attended the afternoon show on July 6, 1944, and many were fortunate enough to survive the blaze. Here are the names of some of the survivors, also including names of persons who helped or are otherwise associated with the Hartford circus fire.Names sorted by "last name first"; in cases of women who married after the circus fire, their name in 1944 is used when known. The search function at the top of the page can also be used to search the entire website for a specific name or term.

Veroff, Paul (15), Hartford Attended the circus with his friend Dave Corn and 6 younger children. They all got out safely.

NARROW ESCAPE IN CIRCUS FIRE
7/11/1944 - HARTFORD, CONN. — Fred Verret is coming along very nicely in St. Francis Hospital, after suffering severe burns on hands, legs, and back in the fire which swept through the main tent of Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey circus last week, killing over 150 people. Those who were injured were taken to St. Francis Hospital where their burns were treated with Boric acid and petroleum solutions. Fred’s mother and aunt perished in the fire in which he received his injuries. (Credit: ACME Newspictures, Inc.)

Verret, Fred R. Jr. (5); 427 Main St, Hartford An uncle who worked for the Ringling Bros. gave the family four tickets to the circus, and Fred attended the circus with his 8-year old sister Joan, their mother Ida Verret, and their aunt Myrtle Verret, who was visiting from Pennsylvania. Ida saw the fire and said that she would take Freddy and for Myrtle to take Joan and escape. Fred received serious burns, and from their group, only he and Joan would survive the fire. Joan Verret’s story as told to the (Lakeland) Ledger can be read here. (Back-up file here) Fred still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC Was awarded $12,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC

Verret, Joan (8), Hartford Had just moved to Hartford from Pennsylvania at the end of the school year. An uncle who worked for the Ringling Bros. gave the family four tickets to the circus, and Joan attended the circus with her 5-year old brother Fred, Jr., their mother Ida Verret, and their aunt Myrtle Verret, who was visiting from Pennsylvania. Ida saw the fire and said that she would take Freddy and for Myrtle to take Joan ad escape. Joan held her aunt’s hand until they were separated, then she found her way to an exit by weaving through the crowd. Fred received serious burns, and from their group, only he and Joan would survive the fire. Joan Verret’s story as told to the (Lakeland) Ledger can be read here. (Back-up file here)

Vibberts, Jackie (teenager); Atlanta, GA Visiting from Georgia, Jackie went to the circus with "Mazie". Both survived.CFR

Viering, Albert H. (adult); Collinsville Worked as superintendent at the Collinsville Water Company. Albert attended circus with his wife Bertha Viering and their granddaughter Joan Louise Bristol, and was approached by a circus usher who offered them seats in Section B for $3.60. They sat about 2/3 of the way up, at the end of the section. Albert heard someone yell "fire!" and turned to his left and saw the fire go up the canvas sidewall and ignite the canvas roof. He walked along the south side of the Hippodrome track with his wife and granddaughter to the far end of the big top where the band was playing and they they walked out the east exit and continued on through the woods. The heat was terrible.

Viering, Mrs. Bertha C. (adult); Collinsville Attended the circus with her husband Albert Viering and their granddaughter Joan Louise Bristol, and they sat in Section B. Bertha heard a young lady yell "fire!" and she looked and saw flames on the sidewall just as they reached the edge of the roof. When the roof caught fire, it spread fast. She paused for a moment to determine the safest way out, then held her granddaughter's hand and jumped over the railing onto the track and exited out the east end.